UCI’s Cha, Chin card 76 in U.S. Amateur first round

PINEHURST, N.C. — UC Irvine golfers Tim Cha and John Chin each shot six-over-par 76 in the first round of stroke play Monday in the 108th U.S. Amateur Championship at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in North Carolina.

Cha, who has one year of eligibility remaining at UCI, and Chin, who will be a junior in the fall, are tied for 200th place in the 312-player field after playing Pinehurst No. 2 Monday.

Former Anteater Brian Edick, the 2007 Big West Conference Player of the Year, shot 77 on the No. 2 course Monday and is in 228th place. Stewart Hagestad, a Newport Beach resident, shot nine-over 79 and is tied for 280th.

Wesley Bryan and Andrew Putnam each shot three-under 67 in the first round to lead the field.

Cha goes off the first tee and Chin the 10th at 4:30 a.m. (PST) today on Pinehurst No. 4. Edick begins his second round on the first hole at 9:55 a.m., also on the No. 4 course, where Hagestad tees off on the 10th hole at 5:40 a.m.

The low 64 scorers following today’s stroke play will advance to match play beginning Wednesday.

— From staff reports